Alexis Elliott helps her friend button her new dress

For years before moving to Paraguay, our family participated in Operation Christmas Child. Each year we would purchase little toys and package them up into a shoe box and then take them to our church so that Samaritans Purse could distribute them all around the world to children who might not otherwise receive anything at Christmas.

Last Christmas, we lived out a dream. We weren't in Canada anymore, but we thought that some of those boxes that we used to package could have been delivered to Paraguay. So, we decided to deliver our own shoe boxes to deserving kids.

We knew a family with four children who lived nearby. Without a father in the home, they had a hard time getting by. There wouldn't be any Christmas presents to look forward to.

	The oldest boy was ecstatic to receive running shoes and money to fix his teeth.

We purchased gifts for all four of the kids. It was a total surprise to all of them, and they were so excited.

We decided as a family that this is what Jesus would want for his birthday. We let our kids give the gifts to the children, and they were thrilled to do this. The joy on all the children's faces was contagious. Happy birthday, Jesus!

We made sure to communicate to the family that God loved them and wanted them to have these gifts. We purchased these gifts with money that the Lord had given us through our financial supporters. We wanted them to realize that. They understood, and it was so neat to be able to share that with them in Spanish without help!